A small town with a great dedication to pottery
Mashiko is home to a mere 20,000 people, but its influence in the world of pottery belies its size. Known as Mashiko-yaki, Mashiko-ware pottery got its start here in the 19th century and fueled an explosion of local creativity that is taken the town all the way to the international stage.
Don't Miss
- World-class pottery at the Mashiko Museum of Ceramic Art
- A free Mashiko walking tour
How to Get There
The following routes assume you are using the Shinkansen. Local trains will also get you there but will take longer.
Coming by train:
Take the Shinkansen on the JR Utsunomiya Line from either Tokyo Station or Ueno Station to Oyama Station in Tochigi.
Change at Oyama for the Mito line going toward Mito.
Get off at Shimodate Station and change to the Moka Tetsudo line going toward Motegi.
The tenth stop is Mashiko Station.
Coming by train and bus:
Take the Shinkansen on the JR Utsunomiya line from either Tokyo Station or Ueno Station to reach Utsunomiya Station in Tochigi.
At Utsunomiya Station, take the Toya bus from bus stand #14 toward Mashiko Station. Bus stops are located at Mashiko Station's west entrance.
The world of Mashiko pottery
Mashiko-yaki is distinguished by its rustic appearance. Fitting the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi simplicity, its popularity began in the 19th century because it was attractive yet practical. The pottery was mostly used as kitchenware at the time.
Today, the allure of Mashiko's pottery attracts buyers from around the globe, and pieces are shown in art collections, including the Ceramic Art Messe Mashiko 
.
A reconstruction of Shoji Hamada's kiln
Not a mess: Ceramic Art Messe Mashiko/Mashiko Museum of Ceramic Art
In modern Japanese, the German word "messe," meaning a "trade fair," has also come to be used for certain kinds of theme parks.
Ceramic Art Messe Mashiko houses a variety of earthenware-related facilities, with the Mashiko Museum of Ceramic Art as its centerpiece.
Initially, the museum focused exclusively on Mashiko-yaki. Recently, it has also begun displaying modern ceramic work from overseas.
The kiln of a master craftsman
Famed artisan Shoji Hamada established a studio in Mashiko in the early 1900s after discovering how wonderful its soil was for pottery. His house, workshop, and kilns, which were built based on ancient designs, have been relocated to Ceramic Art Messe Mashiko .
Hamada's work was at the center of the Japanese art world's Mingei Movement. Mingei art fuses beauty with practicality by popularizing ordinary artisanal styles. With Hamada's presence, Mashiko evolved into a world capital of earthenware.
A series of climbing kilns originally built by Shoji Hamada
Celebrations of ceramics
Mashiko hosts two pottery fairs every year: one during Japan's Golden Week Holiday in late April and early May and another in early November. The whole town hosts the event, but most shops and tents set up along Jonaizaka, the main street. Opportunities to purchase Mashiko-yaki abound.
Other sights in Mashiko
Besides its pottery culture, Mashiko is also home to some beautiful classical architecture. Saimoyoji temple sits on the slopes of Mt. Takadate. Its three-story pagoda was built in the 16th century, and it is one of the oldest pavilions in eastern Japan.
Seeing for yourself
Mashiko offers free tours of the city to groups of 10–40 on weekends and holidays outside the new year holiday period. Tours provide extensive sightseeing, including significant pottery spots, traditional buildings, and beautiful natural scenery.
On your way
While getting to Mashiko, many travelers come via Utsunomiya, Japan's self-proclaimed gyoza capital. Take some time there to feast on the incredible variety of gyoza.
